Shroff’s characters in this book address issues like environment and hacking of trees in the city, plight of dhobi ghats that are being eyed by real estate sharks in a fast-changing metropolis.
According to Shroff, the special thing about Mumbai is that "it will test you to the hilt; it will thwart you, frustrate you, confuse you, and overwhelm you, but it never fails to deliver a sense of realisation, a modicum of personal and spiritual growth."
Even though the maalishwallas have almost disappeared, the horse-drawn Victorias have been banned, the dhobi ghats are being eyed by builders, and the Marine Drive promenade has been truncated, Shroff reminds himself that "the soul of the city is different from the agendas of its caretakers." (Pic/Kirti Surve Parade)
The author shares that the book kicked in post the pandemic, although two of the stories were written earlier. It explores key aspects like man in relation to his environment and man in pursuit of his identity, his goals, while in the city. Nana Chowk skywalk is the backdrop for one of the stories in the book.
They are strong ‘point of view’ stories, intended to reflect the Mumbaikar’s state of mind. They show us where the city is headed, what is lost, and what can be further lost.
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